Brexit negotiations begin next week, despite current lack of official government

Brexit negotiations begin next week, despite current lack of official government

Brexit talks will begin next week, the government has confirmed.

Brexit secretary David Davis and chief Brexit negotiator for the EU, Michel Barnier, agreed today that the divorce talks will officially being on Monday, June 19.

The kickoff corresponds with the original timetable for the talks and has been timed to allow Theresa May to attend an EU leaders’ summit next week with the talks already underway, according to POLITICO.

May’s negotiating position has been severely weakened after the Conservative Party lost its parliamentary majority in the general election and there was speculation that the Brexit talks would delayed.

May called the election to secure a Brexit mandate from the public, however her drubbing at the polls means the Prime Minister is negotiating a deal with the hardline DUP party to prop up the Conservatives.

Despite being yet to form a minority government with the DUP and facing rebellion from both hard-Brexit and pro-EU MPs in her own party, May intends to lead the UK into Brexit talks next week.